Culvert structure



935. F. 1.. CARSWELL ET AL 2,010,293

CULVERT STRUCTURE v Filed Sept. 18, 1953 5 m E o Vwf H mm A am mm w/ w 4 w z m/ w Y v/ B Patented Aug. 6, 1935 PATENT OFFICE CULVERT STRUCTURE Firman L. Carswell and Otto w. Schmidt,

. Kansas City Mo.

Application September 18, 1933, Serial No. 689,913

6 Claims.

This invention relates to linings for subterranean passages commercially called culverts, and the primary object is to provide such a structure that will embody improvements over those illustrated anddescribed in our co-pending application Serial Number 633,714, filed September 19,

1932, and our United States Letters Patent No.

1,928,480 issuing September 26, 1933, and also over those shown and described in our application covering culvert filed on even date herewith.

One of the aims of the present invention is to provide a culvert structure having a floor made up of a plurality of laminated units, over which is placed an arched wall to combine with said floor 5 in forming a passageway and beneath which is disposed a series of depending, perpendicular aprons extending transversely of the floor to prevent washing or similar destructive force on the part of water which may have a tendency to not flow through the passageway.

Minor objects of this invention, including the specific manner of constructing a culvert floor are contemplated and will appear during the course of the specification, referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a culvert embodying the novel features of this invention, parts being eliminated for clearness;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through the culvert.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective, stretch-out view of a portion of two abutting floor units, and,

Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal, central section through the culvert shown in Fig. 1.

In creating a culvert structure with a wooden floor, the units 8 thereof are each made up of superimposed laminations, the uppermost lamination of each unit comprising transverse boards III, while the lower lamination comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending boards l2, said laminations being offset as illustrated in Fig. 3 to prevent perpendicular or longitudinal displacement. An arched wall 14 is carried by culvert floor and extends throughout the length thereof.

The longitudinal edges of wall l4 rest upon the floor along a line spaced inwardly from the longitudinal edges thereof. An outer cleat I6 is secured along the floor to engage wall M as shown. Inner cleat I 8 is secured to the floor along the inside of wall l4 and, as shown in Fig. 3, this inner cleat extends the full length of each unit 8 so that when the units are joined, a continuous inner cleat I8 is formed. Outer cleat l6 terminates inwardly from the ends of the units and a locking strip 20 is employed which bridges the joint between units 8 and forms, with outer cleat IS, a continuous, unbroken cleat throughout the length of the culvert floor.

This locking strip may be secured in position by screws or analogous means 22 which pass down 5 through all. laminations of units 8. Since the boards Ill of upper lamination extend transversely of the floor, it is obvious that all of the cleats serve as tie members for such boards. The aforesaidmanner of locking together the abutting ends of 1 units 8 renders the assembly at point of use exceptionally easy,

A series of depending aprons 24 are secured along the lower side of the culvert lloor to present a barrier or an abutment for any small is streams of water that might work their way beneath units 8. Aprons 24 are extended transversely across the culvert floor at right angles to the longitudinally extending boards [2 of the lower lamination and, therefore, serve as tie members for theboards of this lamination.

Aprons 28 at the end of the culvert floor are provided with outwardly diverging wings 30 which serve to preclude washouts at the end of the culvert and in the event a small amount of water does pass beyond end apron 28, the series of intermediate aprons 24 will serve to eliminate any objectionable underwash.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: l

l. A culvert structure comprising a floor having plurality of superimposed planar members creating laminated units, a transversely arched wall having its longitudinal edges resting upon said floor and combining therewith to form a passageway along one side thereof; and cleats secured to said floor along each side of each edge of the arched wall, said cleats serving as longitudinal tie members for some of the said members constituting the floor, said planar members of one adjoining unit extending transversely of the planar members of the other adjoining unit.

2. A culvert structure comprising a floor having a plurality of superimposed planar members creating laminated units, a transversely arched wall having'its longitudinal edges resting upon said floor and. combining therewith to form a passageway along one side thereof; inner cleats secured to said floor along the inner sides of said wall at the edge thereof; and outer cleats secured to the floor along the outer sides of said wall, said floor being composed of a plurality of interengaging laminated units, a portion of each outer cleat being in the form of a locking strip v bridging the joint between abutting units.

3. A culvert structure comprising a floor having a plurality of superimposed planar members creating a plurality of laminated abutting units; a transversely arched. wall having its longitudinal edges resting upon said floor along lines spaced inwardly from the longitudinal edges thereof and extending across all of said units; an inner cleat secured to each unit, extending the full length thereof and serving as a tie member for the planar members of the unit; an outer cleat secured to each unit along the margin formed thereon between the longitudinal edge of the unit and the wall, said outer cleat having its ends spaced from the ends of said unit; and a locking strip insertable between the ends of the outer cleats on abutting units to bridge the joint therebetween, said locking strip being positioned to form with said outer cleats a continuous cleat along the outside of said wall.

4. A culvert structure comprising a floor having a plurality of superimposed planar members creating a plurality of laminated abutting units; a transversely arched wall having its longitudinal edges resting upon said floor along lines spaced inwardly from the longitudinal edges thereof and extending across all of said units; an inner cleat secured to each unit, extending the full length thereof and serving as a tie member for the planar members of the unit; an outer cleat secured to each unit along the margin formed thereon between the longitudinal edge of the unit and the wall, said outer cleat having its ends spaced from the ends of said unit; and a locking strip insertable between the ends of the outer cleats on abutting units to bridge the joint therebetween, said locking strip being positioned in alignment with the cleats along the outside of said wall, the 'laminations of abutting units terminating'in complementary oifset relation whereby to prevent perpendicular displacement.

5. In a culvert of the character described, a floor comprising a plurality of abutting units each having a plurality of superimposed laminations, the laminations of abutting units being in complementary ofiset relation at the joints therebetween; a series of longitudinally extending cleats secured to one side of said floor in spaced-apart relation; and a locking strip forming a part of certain of said cleats to bridge the joint between abutting units.

6. In a culvert of the character described, a floor comprising a plurality of abutting units each having a plurality of superimposed laminations, the laminations of abutting units being in complementary offset relation at the joints therebetween; a series of longitudinally extending cleats secured to one side of said floor in spacedapart relation; a locking strip forming a part of certain of said cleats to bridge the joint between abutting units; and a series of perpendicular, transverse aprons extending from the other side of said floor, the upper lamination of said units comprising boards extending transversely of the unit whereby the said cleats serve as tie members for the boards, the lower lamination of said units comprising boards'extending longitudinally of the unit at right angles to the boards of the first mentioned lamination, whereby the said transverse aprons serve as tie members for said boards.

FIRMAN L. CARSWELL. OTTO W. SCHMIDT. 

